RCMP seeks possible Nunavut victims of former teacher guilty of sex assaults
Neil Barry convicted May 10 in Yellowknife for incidents during tryouts for 2010 Arctic Winter Games
Neil Barry, a former teacher who worked in multiple jurisdictions including Nunavut, has been convicted of sexual assault and exploitation in Northwest Territories. RCMP are urging anyone who may have been affected during his time in Nunavut to contact local police. (File photo)
A former teacher with a lengthy career across northern Canada, including time spent in Nunavut, has been found guilty of multiple sexual offences in the Northwest Territories.
The RCMP is now encouraging others who may have been victimized to come forward.
Neil Barry, 48, was convicted May 10 in territorial court in Yellowknife on two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation.
The verdict capped a three-week trial stemming from a police investigation initiated in 2021.
Nunavut RCMP spokesperson Sgt. George Henrie shared a May 26 news release about the conviction from N.W.T. RCMP, saying the possibility exists more victims have yet to come forward to police.
Barry worked in communities across N.W.T. between 2007 and 2017, including Tulita, Fort Simpson and Yellowknife, RCMP said. He later moved to High Prairie, Alta., where he was employed by the local school district.
The original investigation began after Alberta RCMP received a report of a historical sexual assault that occurred in Yellowknife in the summer of 2009 during tryouts for the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.
Barry was arrested in High Prairie in June 2021.
Details of Barry’s time in Nunavut are unclear.
Citing “privacy and confidentiality” reasons, Nunavut’s Department of Education declined to share any information about Barry’s employment history in the territory.
RCMP also could not offer any information about when or in which schools Barry worked.
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